Life, in general

My mom told me while I was home for the weekend last weekend that people have been asking why I haven't updated since...September. It's very easy to explain for a few reasons. 1- The blog is connected to an email account I no longer have (UCF took it away from me), so I have to sign out of the one I have then try to remember the password for the old one. A bit of a hassle. 2- Life is...busy. Well, more like work is busy. Life is relaxing, for the most part.

So, how to update the last almost 6 months for you. Work has had its ins and outs. I hated it for awhile with the monotony of awful work. I was bored and that's not good for me. Boredom=not caring. Once I don't care anymore it's hard to come back. Don't you ever feel that way sometimes? I like to switch things up once I get to that point. It takes all the fret and dismay out of working a tedious job. So, what I did is I got up the nerve to sit down with my boss and ask for something new, something different- my own project. She has led me in a whole new direction. She offered to help me get publications for applying to grad schools. She also, along with a few others, persuaded me to get my Ph.D instead of just a Masters. My goals in life would stop incredibly short of their destination if I wasted my time on a Masters.

These days I am working on my own project with Edema Fluid in Acute Lung Injury patients from the ICU. I'm basically working with microRNAs and histone proteins for the time being. My focus will be on the histones though. I doubt that's in anyone's realm of real caring, so if you want to know more you can google it. I'm also starting a new project for the Delirium group working with Veterans samples and I'm finishing up a project on lung transplant patients. Like I said, busy.

Lots have been going on at home. Update on Reid, the boy. He, unfortunately, got let go of his job with the online advertising company, but he also had two job offers a couple months after. He got offered a high-paying sales job with Dell and a copywriting position with an advertising company. Needless to say, it was a no-brainer and he is now a proud member of an advertising company rated one of the best places to work in Nashville! YAY Reid!

Now this. I will expound on an issue I'm going through a little bit of trouble with right now. I've basically set myself up to start grad school in 2013, work on my Ph.D for 5+ years then start a post doc. then a possible career in the immunology pathology field of research. Here's the dilemma. This would be my last year to experience...anything I wanted to do. You all should know by now that I'm a wandering soul. I'm content when I'm moving. I'm happiest when there's change, new things, new cultures, life. How else do you explain me? I'm a wanderer. I have wanderlust. I've met my counterpart that feels the same way I do. He's the other part of my soul. You always know, that missing piece when finally placed makes you feel whole in yourself, your life, your possibilities.

Well, my other half wants to teach in Asia for a year. He brought the idea up on a whim two weeks ago. Well, it's time to get serious. Our lease is up in October. What's exactly stopping us from packing up our essentials (and our adorable little kitty Liam) and moving to Asia for a year come then. Nothing. Nothing but my grad school, research, and starting my career. I'm going through a ton of battles with myself right now. I want to go. I keep asking myself: Why not? Every time I wonder whether or not to do something, that's my go to question. It always pushes me to choose the right direction. I don't want to ever regret not doing something. Life is nothing with regrets. We should live our lives the way we see fit, otherwise, what's the point in living it? But that's putting off school for another year. That's taking off from the research I've just now begun on my own. That's taking away my possible publications and the furthering of my career in science. But, if not now, when? When do I get this chance again? And especially to have someone else to go with me like Reid? Ugh...so many facets of my life to look at, but this feels like it should be such a good decision. Teach abroad for a year, travel, then come back refreshed and ready to take on the world! I'm just having a hard time. I don't know what to do. I'll keep you updated and when/if this pans out you'll definitely be getting a brand new blog entitled WANDERLUST and up to date postings about travels, experiences, and of course pictures of everything I come into contact with.